May 25, 2009 11:52 pm US/Eastern
Broadway Becomes Sea Of Lounge Chairs
New Yorkers Seem Generally Pleased With City, DOT's New Vision For Times Square And Herald Square
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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New Yorkers were out in full force on Memorial Day, taking advantage of the city's new vision for pedestrians on Broadway in Times Square and Herald Square.
CBS
It's car-free at the crossroads of the world.
People are taking it to the streets on new walkways in Times Square and Herald Square. Cars, trucks and buses are banned on Broadway for several blocks.
This is the new image of sitting in traffic in Times Square. Broadway is officially closed off for the pedestrian promenade. So what do people think?
"I'm from New York. I love this!" one person said.
"All I need is sand and a bucket and I'll be okay," Mark Luckie said.
"I think it's a good thing. Without having the cars and stuff, I think it's nice," said Sue Doherty of Murray Hill.
Sue and Jessica Doherty are big fans of the new car-free zone at the crossroads of the world. Cars, cabs and buses have been replaced by people lounging in lawn chairs, watching a movie on a big screen, and enjoying a team of street performers.
"I think it would be good for the environment for less gas and stuff," Jessica Doherty said.
By blocking off Broadway from 47th to 42nd street and diverting traffic to Seventh Avenue and also shutting down this small portion of Broadway in Herald Square. The city is hoping to reduce pollution and pedestrian accidents, and improve traffic flow through Midtown.
Some cab drivers like George Konds already hate the change.
"It's good for the people and good for the Times Square, but it's not good for the traffic because it's not easy to get to Penn Station," Konds said.
"We've just begun the closures and there'll be a period of adjustment as people get used to the new traffic patterns," Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said. "But we believe particularly on Sixth Avenue we're going to see some immediate relief."
Others are very pleased with the new layout.
"During Christmas, Thanksgiving because it so crowded you can't even walk, you really can't, so during the holiday it may be a big relief," Dorothy Luft said.
Monday may have gone off without a hitch but it is a holiday. The true traffic test here on Broadway will begin Tuesday, when everyone gets back in their cars and returns to work.
The DOT plans to monitor the area closely during the initial adjustment period.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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